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Break up and impedance question.... [message #6770]

Sun, 12 March 2006 18:56

MikeB
Messages: 12
Registered: March 2006

Junior Member

Hello:
I have a couple of 2X15 cabs with reconed Altec 421A's. The speakers are 8 ohms in parallel to make a 4 ohm load in each cabinet.I have been splitting the signal from my bass and a Sans Amp DI into 2 K200 heads- a B1 and a B4 (one for each cab). They sound great- plenty loud at 9 or 10 o'clock- but start to break up after that. My question- is there a way to wire two 8 ohm speakers to get an 8 ohm load and would that enable me to get MORE VOLUME?
It seems that the heads are capable of even more but turning past 12 o'clock seriously degrades the tone, etc. Oh, did I mention they are all RED SPARKLE? Just kidding they are all black- but they look very cool with their little 3" chrome voice coil covers peeking through the grilles. thanks

Mike in WI

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Re: Break up and impedance question.... [message #6772 is a reply to message #6770]

Mon, 13 March 2006 07:59

LesS
Messages: 477
Registered: December 2002

Senior Member

With the average input, it is normal to get full volume at about 10 o’clock.
The preamps in the Kustoms were fairly sensitive.
Is it pretty loud?
If it is not loud enough for you, 100 watts for bass is not a lot, you might need more power – 400 watts or more.
Have you checked each speaker with a multimeter?
Stock Altecs sometimes have very low measured impedances.
I have owned several 8 ohm Altecs that measured 4.3 to 4.4 ohms.
Also, with a recone, it could have been reconed with a 16 ohm voice coil.
I would reduce the amount of bass boost, if any, that you are using. I would set the bass control on 12 o'clock or a little lower. This will give you more headroom.
(see the posting titled: Bass Distorts on Volume 4 from April 15, 2004)
-Les S

[Updated on: Mon, 13 March 2006 08:02]

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Re: Break up and impedance question.... [message #6773 is a reply to message #6770]

Mon, 13 March 2006 08:05

stevem
Messages: 4733
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

With 8 ohm speakers their is only 2 impeadances you can get, 4 or 16 ohms. The way you have it, is the way it should be to get the 100 watts RMS out of the k200s.If your bass has active pickups you may be driving the amps preamps into clipping a lttle early. Their where no active pickups back when these amps where made, so they put a good amount of gain into the preamps, hence the famous Kustom hiss.So you might try backing down on you axe output and open up the amp more.With 4 good altecs you should be thumpin pretty good though!

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Re: Break up and impedance question.... [message #6775 is a reply to message #6772]

Mon, 13 March 2006 11:09

MikeB
Messages: 12
Registered: March 2006

Junior Member

Thanks for the reply. The amps are loud...so I guess they are working as they should. In fact the B4 has been completely gone through by a tech. All 4 speakers are newly reconed. Apparently 10 or 11 o'clock is peak operating range, then. My basses are passive- a Fender and a Rick. I HIGHLY recommend the SansAmp D.I. to anyone looking to maximize their tonal options through these amazing amps.

Mike in WI

[Updated on: Mon, 13 March 2006 11:10]

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Re: Break up and impedance question.... [message #6777 is a reply to message #6770]

Tue, 14 March 2006 07:52

edforgothispassword is currently offline

edforgothispassword
Messages: 202
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

yep..you are max'd on your rig...but...more perceived volume per particular venue room size..can be had...I played a double 2x15 bass rig for many many.....many years..and here's what I found helped more than anything.. I bought a Boss bass eq pedal..so bass guitar into the pedal into the kustom direct...it let me enhance certain areas, drive a bit more of others and back down some problem areas..at lower volumes I could dial in a fuller and more dynamic tone...including some great top end that wasn't mid/harsh...I do the same with my guitar rig...using a boss parametric...the kustoms take to them very well..and you get a huge impact for the lil bit of money involved...the pedals I believe offer up a total 15db gain..but I never ran them more than about 5db on the gain slider..its in the carving and shaping that you get the perceived difference...and the impact of certain frequencies that are just amazing.

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Re: Break up and impedance question.... [message #6778 is a reply to message #6777]

Tue, 14 March 2006 09:09

MikeB
Messages: 12
Registered: March 2006

Junior Member

Thanks, Ed. The tech 21 SansAmp does what you're describing- shapes the signal- plus it has an XLR out to the house- and it's active (9v). I always use it now, no matter what I play through. I also have a SC150 w/two Scorpion 10's and the SansAmp really makes that one sound bigger. That's a great little bass amp!

Mike in WI

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